Job Description

The Assistant Vice President of Planning & Design and University Architect (AVP) serves as Rice University’s primary steward of campus buildings, landscapes, public spaces, and the built environment. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Facilities, Planning & Capital Construction, the AVP leads the planning and design organization and serves as the University’s internal design authority, providing strategic leadership for campus planning, architecture, landscape stewardship, facilities programming, design governance, and long-range physical development.

The AVP serves as Rice University’s principal advisor on matters related to campus planning and public realm design, architecture, landscape stewardship, land use, site development, and the long-term evolution of the campus, while leading the implementation and ongoing stewardship of the Campus Framework Plan. The AVP partners closely with senior university leadership, academic and administrative stakeholders, facilities leadership, project management, space management, public affairs, development and alumni relations, and the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees to align planning, design, space utilization, campus landscape, and capital investment decisions with institutional priorities, long-term physical development strategy, and the University’s capital governance process.

The AVP establishes and maintains planning, design, and development standards; leads design review and consultant selection processes; oversees planning studies and campus development initiatives; and promotes excellence, sustainability, accessibility, resiliency, fiscal stewardship, and design continuity across the University’s physical environment. The position also serves on the campus Arboretum Committee and provides oversight of the related tree canopy, landscape, public realm, and open-space stewardship initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, collaborative, and design-oriented leader with deep expertise in architecture, campus planning, design governance, landscape stewardship, and higher education capital planning. They will have a demonstrated ability to translate academic, research, student life, residential, athletics, and institutional priorities into long-range campus plans, capital investments, and design standards that advance Rice University's mission and strengthen its distinctive campus identity.

This leader will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees, providing vision, sound judgment, and strategic guidance on campus development and stewardship. Success in this role requires exceptional communication, relationship-building, and consensus-driving skills, with the ability to engage effectively across a diverse range of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, deans, project teams, consultants, and external partners.

The successful candidate will balance design excellence, fiscal responsibility, operational needs, and long-term institutional stewardship while navigating complex organizational environments. They will possess a deep appreciation for Rice University's architectural heritage, landscape framework, open spaces, tree canopy, and pedestrian-focused campus experience, recognizing the campus as a critical asset that supports teaching, research, student success, community engagement, philanthropy, and the university's long-term aspirations.

About Rice and Facilities, Planning and Capital Construction

Rice University is a world-class private research university located on a distinctive 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas—one of the nation’s leading centers for medicine, energy, technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities, Rice is renowned for excellence in research, teaching, and the student experience. Through a highly collaborative academic environment and a culture that fosters interdisciplinary discovery, Rice advances creativity, innovation, and solutions to complex global challenges.

The university’s physical campus serves as a fundamental asset in achieving its mission. Widely recognized as one of the most beautiful and distinctive university environments in the United States, the campus reflects more than a century of thoughtful planning, architectural stewardship, and design excellence. Originating from the 1909 General Plan by Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson, Rice has maintained an exceptional sense of architectural continuity, landscape cohesion, and human-scaled design while evolving to meet the needs of a modern research university. Its distinct Mediterranean Byzantine architectural vocabulary, pedestrian-oriented academic core, interconnected open spaces, mature live oak canopy, and nationally recognized arboretum create a setting that honors Rice’s history while supporting its future aspirations.

Rice’s campus buildings and master planning are also highly decorated, with the university’s historic architecture and contemporary additions earning prestigious local, national, and international design recognition. Several Pritzker Architecture Prize laureates and internationally significant architects have shaped Rice’s built environment and planning legacy, reinforcing the campus as both a functional academic setting and an enduring work of design. This tradition of architectural ambition and contextual excellence continues to distinguish Rice among leading research universities and elevates the importance of careful stewardship, design governance, and long-range campus planning.

Today, the campus functions as an integrated environment that supports academic excellence, research innovation, residential life, athletics, cultural engagement, and community connection. Academic buildings, cutting-edge research facilities, residential colleges, cultural venues, public spaces, utility infrastructure, mobility systems, and ecological landscapes work together to create a vibrant and supportive university experience. The campus also plays a critical role in student recruitment, faculty attraction and retention, philanthropy, partnerships, and Rice’s national and international reputation.

A defining characteristic of Rice is its close-knit community. The university’s 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and unique residential college system foster meaningful relationships and support students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and culturally. Through student government, lectures, performances, intramural sports, and community traditions, Rice cultivates a strong sense of belonging and engagement, contributing to its national recognition for quality of life and value among private universities.

As Rice continues to grow, the university remains committed to preserving the defining qualities that make it unique while advancing sustainability, resilience, accessibility, research capacity, and long-term institutional development. The Campus Framework Plan envisions significant future growth while reinforcing the architectural legacy, residential college system, landscape framework, arboretum setting, and culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that distinguish Rice. Stewardship of this exceptional physical environment is essential to advancing the university’s academic mission and strategic vision for generations to come.

Rice is also an exceptional place to work. Faculty, staff, and students share a commitment to the values that define the university’s culture and community. These values—Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence (RICE)—guide decisions, shape behaviors, and influence how members of the Rice community support one another and welcome visitors. Together, these principles sustain a thriving academic environment and reinforce Rice University’s commitment to excellence in all that it does.

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

Workplace Requirements

This position requires the ability to effectively manage stressful situations and critical issues with diplomacy, prioritize and organize work to meet demanding deadlines, and collaborate successfully within a team environment while receiving direction from multiple leaders.

• The role also requires the ability and willingness to access all university spaces, including tunnels, rooftops, and construction sites.
• This role is considered an Essential On-Campus position, the incumbent must maintain a consistent on-site presence to perform critical job functions and, during emergencies or crises, must report to campus as directed and remain accessible to leadership to support institutional continuity and essential operations. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the salary will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and demonstrated expertise. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture from an accredited institution
• Professional licensure as a Registered Architect
• 4+ years of professional experience in planning and design, including facilities, grounds, and campus development projects, with a demonstrated commitment to design excellence, stewardship of the built environment, and alignment with institutional planning objectives.

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and mentor high-performing teams while fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Proven ability to lead complex, high-impact projects and initiatives involving diverse stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, visual, and presentation communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage audiences from frontline staff to executive leadership and governing boards.
• Comprehensive understanding of higher education operations, governance, and institutional priorities, with the ability to align planning and design decisions accordingly.
• Demonstrated success in building relationships, influencing outcomes, and leading cross-functional teams to achieve strategic objectives.
• Ability to develop and deliver executive- and board-level materials by synthesizing complex technical, financial, and strategic information into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated political savvy, diplomacy, resilience, and sound judgment, with the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and drive consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Preferences

• Advanced degree in Architecture, Urban Planning, Design, Landscape Architecture, or a related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the planning, design, and development of higher education facilities, campus environments, and major capital projects.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within a complex higher education institution, preferably serving in a senior campus planning, architecture, facilities, or capital projects role.
• Active architectural licensure and membership in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading campus master planning efforts and guiding the physical development of a major institutional campus.
• Strong understanding of design excellence, historic preservation, sustainability, and stewardship of the built environment.
• Proficiency with architectural design, planning, visualization, and graphic communication tools, with the ability to effectively convey complex concepts to diverse stakeholder groups.
• Proven ability to partner with executive leadership, governing boards, academic leaders, and external consultants to advance strategic institutional objectives.
• Experience developing and presenting recommendations, analyses, and project updates to executive leadership and governing boards.

Essential Functions

• Lead the continued evolution of the Campus Planning and Design program, establishing governance, standards, processes, and partnerships that support the University's long-term physical development strategy and institutional mission.
• Serve as the University's principal steward for the planning, design, and physical development of campus facilities, grounds, and landscapes, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, architectural standards, and the campus master plan.
• Direct the development, implementation, and periodic update of the campus master plan, ensuring alignment with the University's strategic priorities, enrollment growth, research objectives, and capital investment strategies.
• Establish and maintain architectural, landscape, and urban design standards that promote design excellence, sustainability, stewardship of the built environment, and preservation of the University's character and identity.
• Lead consultant selection, design review, and planning processes for major capital projects, ensuring consistency with University standards, project objectives, regulatory requirements, and master planning principles.
• Provide strategic leadership and expert guidance to executive leadership, deans, academic and administrative units, and project teams regarding campus planning, facilities programming, design excellence, and development opportunities.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and Facilities & Capital Planning partners to evaluate and advise on five- and ten-year capital plans, including project prioritization, sequencing, campus impacts, and long-range development implications.
• Build trusted relationships and influence decision-making across all levels of the organization, effectively communicating complex planning, architectural, and development matters to audiences ranging from frontline staff and operational teams to executive leadership, trustees, donors, and the broader campus community.
• Convene, influence, and lead cross-functional teams to resolve complex planning and development challenges, build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and facilitate informed decision-making.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for campus planning and development initiatives by regularly communicating plans, priorities, and project outcomes through campus-wide forums, presentations, and stakeholder engagement opportunities.
• Lead, develop, and mentor staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor emerging trends, industry best practices, regulatory requirements, and innovations in higher education planning, architecture, sustainability, and campus development to inform strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions

• Partner closely with Facilities Operations and Deferred Maintenance leadership to identify, prioritize, and advance projects that support the strategic reduction of deferred maintenance liabilities and the long-term preservation of the University's physical assets.
• Provides financial leadership for the Campus Planning and Design function, including oversight of departmental operations, budgets, resource planning, and operating financial performance.
• Develop and present planning recommendations, campus development strategies, master plan updates, and project analyses to executive leadership, the Buildings and Grounds Committee, the Board of Trustees, and other governing or advisory bodies.
• Collaborate with Public Affairs and Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) to support communications, fundraising, donor engagement, and external relations activities related to campus development, facilities, grounds, and capital projects.

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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.